TVA says new reactor construction on schedule

The Tennessee Valley Authority says work on a second reactor to the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant remains on schedule following a revision of completion estimates.

The federal agency recently released an update on Watts Bar 2 covering the work accomplished in the 15 months after the TVA board of directors approved continuing with construction of the unit in April 2012.

Officials say the plant is 80 percent complete. The estimated completion was projected between September 2015 and June 2016. It's now expected to be completed in December 2015.

The cost to construct the plant is also expected to stay within $4.5 billion after being increased from $2.5 billion.

"Performance during the quarter continued to be consistent with the revised ETC (estimate to complete) and targets for safety, quality, cost and schedule are being met," Mike Skaggs, TVA senior vice president for Watts Bar operations and construction, said in a news release issued Tuesday.

The plant will generate about 1,100 megawatts, enough electricity to supply about 650,000 homes.

TVA is the nation's largest public utility, supplying power to about 9 million people in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.